TWENTY-SIX soldiers from one of the British Army's proudest regiments have failed a drugs test in the past six months and are facing explusion from the service in disgrace.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said last night that four of the soldiers from The Green Howards had already been given a second chance after testing positive for drugs last year.

Officials said that eight privates had failed the latest compulsory drugs sweep - bringing the total to 26 in six months.

The discovery will rock the regiment, which recruits primarily from Teesside and North Yorkshire, only weeks before it starts a tour of duty in Bosnia.

It will shock veterans who have served with the regiment that has a distinguished history stretching back 300 years.

A MoD spokeswoman confirmed the latest positive tests last night.

She said: "Eight soldiers from the 1st Battalion The Green Howards, Beachley Barracks, Chepstow, were found positive in a recent compulsory drug test. Drug misuse is incompatible with life in the Armed Forces and will not be tolerated."

The discovery comes against a backdrop of growing concern over the level of drug abuse in the Army.

The spokeswoman said: "The Army recognises that a small minority of soldiers do take drugs. However, it should be stressed that drugs misuse is not widespread and is contained by the deterrent effect of compulsory drug tests as well as a vigorous drug education programme.

"Appropriate action is taken against individuals who are found to be taking or supplying illegal drugs. This usually means that they are discharged from military service."

It is believed the soldiers were all privates.

Eight soldiers were caught in a random swoop in December last year. Two months earlier, 14 soldiers at the regiment were found to have drugs in their system.

Another soldier was questioned on suspicion of drug related offences and has since been kicked out of the Army.

The Army demonstrated its zero tolerance policy in 1998 when 30 members of the Green Howards were thrown out of the regiment for drug abuse.

Major (retired) Roger Chapman, from the Green Howards regimental headquarters in Richmond, North Yorkshire, said he was saddened and angered by the positive tests.

He said: "I'm angry that the soldiers have let the side down again and thrown away their careers. They've brought the regiment into disrepute at a time when it is going through a lot of changes."

Maj Chapman added that he was unhappy the regiment had again been singled out for random tests.

He said: "I don't know why they've hit the regiment three times in six months, especially as they're due to go on operations next month.

"I'm quite sad that the Army is receiving such a hammering at the moment."

The Green Howards has bases in North Yorkshire and Chepstow.

The regiment is to spend six months on tour in Bosnia and Kosovo.

The Green Howards will end 318 years of independent existence later this year when it amalgamates into the new Yorkshire Regiment.